Granite

Overview:

Only diamonds, rubies and sapphires are harder than granite, giving it remarkable permanence and resistance to scratches and stains. Its striking colors and textures make it one of the word’s most enduring, and endearing, stones.

Sources:

Worldwide, including the United States, with outstanding quarries in Italy, South America, Europe and Asia.

Colors:

A wide range of mineral colors blend into a spattered or “swirled” grain.

Common Uses:

Granite can be honed to a smooth yet impenetrable surface for kitchen countertops. It can be flamed and textured for fireplaces and outside structures.